Method for closing and sealing a woven polymeric bag

ABSTRACT

A method for sealing a bag which is formed from a tube of material and has front and rear sides, a pair of opposing, inward-tending gusset folds, each of these folds having front and rear vertical creases, comprising the steps of slitting each of the opposing front creases along longitudinal their axes, obtaining front and rear plies. A first rearward fold is formed by rearwardly folding the rear plies together with the rear vertical creases such that the inner surface of the rear ply is visible. A second rearward fold is formed by rearwardly folding the first fold until the inner surface of the rear ply lays against the rear side of the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the rear of a bag;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the front of a bag;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of one lateral side of the bag showing a slit in one crease;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the lateral side of the bag showing the portions to be folded grouped together;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the lateral side of the bag after a first rearward fold;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the lateral side of the bag after a second rearward fold;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the rear side of the bag after the first rearward fold; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the rear side of the bag after the second rearward fold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 7 of the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Throughout the drawings, like numerals are used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

The drawings represent and illustrate examples of the various embodiments of the invention, and not a limitation thereof. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present inventions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as described herein. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be included in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Moreover, variations in selection of materials and/or characteristics may be practiced to satisfy particular desired user criteria. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications as come within the scope of the features and their equivalents.

Furthermore, any reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “various embodiments,” or any variant thereof means that a particular feature or aspect of the invention described in conjunction with the particular embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in another embodiment,” or variations thereof in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to its respective embodiment.

Shown in FIGS. 1A,B is a bag A of the type often used for animal feed, or similar types of contents. Bag A is made from a durable, flexible material suitable for such containment and storage of such material. One non-limiting example of such a material is polypropylene, and further, woven polypropylene. Other examples include polyethylene and blends of polypropylene and polyethylene, paper to polypropylene or paper. Bag A is formed from a tube-like structure which is cut to size. Then one end is closed and sealed, the bag is filled, and the opposing end is then sealed. For orientational reference, bag A includes a front side 11, and an opposing rear side 12. The front side 11 may be considered the side on which prominent displays of labeling comprising, for example, graphic designs, trademarks, and the like, a notional example of which is represented in FIG. 1B. For storage purposes when the bag is empty, bag A is collapsible, having a pair of opposing inwardly-projecting gusset-type folds 1 formed at the lateral sides 15, 16 of the bag. FIG. 2 illustrates an end portion of an unclosed bag A, viewed from the perspective of a gusset fold 1, where two outer creases 3, 4 forming a gusset fold 1 are referenced.

A slit 5 is made in an outer crease 4, preferably the outer crease adjacent the side of bag A that will be the front of the bag 11. The slit 5 then creates a forward ply 6 and a rear ply 7. The forward ply 6 is kept in place while a first rearward fold (FIG. 4) is formed by folding the rear ply 7 along with the rear fold 3. The first rearward fold is creased roughly at the vertex 5 a of slit 5. A second rearward fold (FIG. 5) is created by fold the entire bag A rearward where it is creased approximately at or above the level reached by the ends of the plies 14 (indicated by ghosted line) after the first rearward fold.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, means for securing the fold is illustrated in FIG. 6 where after the first rearward fold, adhesive 9 is deposited on the inner surface of rearward ply 7. Adhesive 9 may be any suitable adhesive for securing or bonding the material to itself. By way of non-limiting example, adhesive 9 could be a hot melt adhesive known to those skilled in the relevant arts. In another embodiment, adhesive 9 is also deposited upon the rear surface of the bag A within the area at which the inner surface of ply 7 contacts it.

FIG. 7 depicts the completed folded closure. Inner surface of rearward ply 7 (represented by dashed line) is bonded to rear surface 12 of bag A. Front ply 6 extends roughly vertically with respect to the bag, beyond the crease of the first rearward fold. FIG. 1B, then, shows an exemplary bag A from the front perspective where it is apparent that an observer cannot see any seams, seals, or closures, thus presenting a more aesthetically pleasing package to the customer.

As described above and shown in the associated drawings, the present invention comprises a method for closing and sealing a tube-formed bag and bags produced thereby. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is, therefore, contemplated by the following claims to cover any such modifications that incorporate those features or those improvements that embody the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A method for sealing a bag, said bag formed from a tube of material and having front side and a rear side, and a pair of opposing, inward-tending gusset folds, each of said folds having front and rear vertical creases, said method comprising the steps of: a. slitting each of said front creases along longitudinal axes thereof, thereby obtaining front and rear plies; b. forming a first rearward fold by rearwardly folding said rear plies together with said rear vertical creases such that an inner surface of said rear ply is visible; and c. forming a second rearward fold by rearwardly folding said first fold wherein said inner surface of said rear ply lays against said rear side of said bag.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of depositing an adhesive upon said inner surface of said rear ply.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of depositing said adhesive upon the rear side of said bag where said inner surface lays against it.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said material is polypropylene.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said material is polypropylene.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of depositing an adhesive upon said inner surface of said rear ply.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of depositing said adhesive upon the rear side of said bag where said inner surface lays against it.
 8. A flexible bag formed from a tube of material and having front side and a rear side, and a pair of opposing, inward-tending gusset folds, each of said folds having front and rear vertical creases, said bag having at least one sealed closure formed by a method comprising the steps of: a. slitting each of said front creases along longitudinal axes thereof, thereby obtaining front and rear plies; b. forming a first rearward fold by rearwardly folding said rear plies together with said rear vertical creases such that an inner surface of said rear ply is visible; and c. forming a second rearward fold by rearwardly folding said first fold wherein said inner surface of said rear ply lays against said rear side of said bag.
 9. The bag of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises the step of depositing an adhesive upon said inner surface of said rear ply.
 10. The bag of claim 9, wherein said method further comprises the step of depositing said adhesive upon the rear side of said bag where said inner surface lays against it.
 11. The bag of claim 10, wherein said material is polypropylene.
 12. The bag of claim 8, wherein said material is polypropylene.
 13. The bag of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises the step of depositing an adhesive upon said inner surface of said rear ply.
 14. The bag of claim 13, wherein said method further comprises the step of depositing said adhesive upon the rear side of said bag where said inner surface lays against it.
 15. A method of sealing a bag, said bag formed from a tube of material and having front side and a rear side, and a pair of lateral, opposing, inward-tending gusset folds, each of said folds having front and rear vertical creases, said method comprising the steps of: a. parting said material longitudinally along said front crease; b. rolling a rear ply resulting from said step of parting along with rear portion of said bag proximal to said rear ply such that a surface of said rear ply opposes the rear side of said bag; and c. applying an adhesive element to said surface, said adhesive being for the bonding of said surface with said rear side.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of applying adhesive further comprises applying adhesive to said rear side in the area contacted by said rear ply.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein said material is polypropylene.
 18. A bag sealed by the method of claim
 15. 19. The bag of claim 18, wherein said step of applying adhesive further comprises applying adhesive to said rear side in the area contacted by said rear ply.
 20. The bag of claim 19, wherein said material is polypropylene.
 21. A flexible bag comprising: a tube of material comprising: a front side; a rear side; a pair of opposing, inward-tending gusset folds, each of said folds having front and rear vertical creases and each of said folds between said front side and said rear side; at least one sealed closure comprising: a front ply and a rear ply, said front ply and said rear ply being separated by a slit along said front creases along longitudinal axes thereof, and said rear ply having an outer and inner surface; a first rearward fold causing said outer surface of said rear ply to oppose a first portion of the rear side of the bag; and a second rearward fold causing said inner surface of said rear ply to oppose a second portion of the rear side of the bag.
 22. The flexible bag of claim 21 further comprising an adhesive upon said inner surface of said rear ply.
 23. The flexible bag of claim 22 further comprising the adhesive upon the rear side of said flexible bag where said inner surface lays against it.
 24. The flexible bag of claim 23, wherein said tube of material is polypropylene.
 25. The flexible bag of claim 21, wherein said tube of material is polypropylene.
 26. The flexible bag of claim 25, further comprising an adhesive upon said inner surface of said rear ply.
 27. The flexible bag of claim 26 further comprising the adhesive upon the rear side of said flexible bag where said inner surface lays against it. 